HIMALAYAS
K
apil is telling me to breathe in and out as slowly as I can. I don’t know whether it’s my yoga teacher’s soft-like-silk voice or the art of focusing solely on one tiny aspect of my being – legs crossed, hands pressed together in front of my chest – but for once my mind is quiet. I feel completely at peace as the morning sun breaks over the mountains and warms my cheeks, as the wind rustles in the trees and a crow calls overhead, and as the river froths in the yawning valley below. If I was to have a life-changing yoga experience, it was always going to be here. I’m in the mountains above the yoga capital of the world: Rishikesh in India. This small city, in the northern state of Uttarakhand, lies scattered across the banks of the mighty Ganges, one of the holiest rivers in the Hindu faith, in the foothills of the Himalayas. One of India’s oldest pilgrimage sites, the sleepy Hindu city garnered international attention in 1968 when The Beatles visited to take part in a meditation course at the ashram of the renowned Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Rishikesh remains popular today,
particularly among keen yogis and backpackers finding their spiritual path. Yet they might not realise that in the mountains looming above, yoga is complemented by exhilarating pursuits such as hiking, climbing and white-water rafting. Paired with healing mountain air and local Pahari cuisine centred around native Himalayan produce, it’s the kind of getaway that feels good for the soul.
In with the new
Paired with healing mountain air and local Pahari cuisine centred
❝
around native Himalayan produce, it’s a getaway that feels good for the soul
The Uttarakhand mountains – known as the Land of the Gods – have long served as a popular weekend retreat for Indians, who flock to their second homes to get away from the stresses of the city and soak up the purity of the Himalayas. Thanks to a new luxury property from Taj Hotels, Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, the mountains are opening up to international travellers too, offering a great alternative for second-time visitors to India who have already explored the Golden Triangle, or as an add-on destination before or after a North Indian itinerary. Opened last November, the property lies 19 miles above Rishikesh in a quiet and unassuming village called Singthali, holding a prime position within a curve of the Ganges and surrounded by towering peaks on all sides. It’s the most premium addition to the small collection of lodges and adventure camps nestled into the mountains here, and, as we’re ushered onto a glass-sided terrace jutting out over the
valley, we learn why it’s causing such a stir. I’m given a yellow bhindi and an intricate
bracelet made from seeds grown in the mountains (thought to give good health and inner peace), while a steaming cup of wild rhododendron tea is thrust into my hands. I take a sip while looking out over the sun- streaked mountains, a thin veil of winter mist hanging mysteriously over their peaks. Whether you believe in the spiritual energy of the river or not, there’s no denying this region emanates feel-good vibes.
➛
OPPOSITE: FIRST ROW: Prayers offered to the Ganges; Sadhu, Rishikesh SECOND ROW: Tera Manzil Temple, Rishikesh; Erica Bush on a hiking trail; practising yoga THIRD ROW: Rishikesh at dusk FOURTH ROW: sadhu listens to Hindu songs; view from the Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa PREVIOUS PAGE: Shiva and the wise man on the Ganges river bank Credits: Shutterstock
62 ASPIRE DECEMBER 2020
aspiretravelclub.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83
